Back in 1981, Mark Hamill was fresh off the success of The Empire Strikes Back, and made a number of TV appearances. One appearance, on a syndicated children’s show, has rarely been seen in recent years, until YouTube came to the rescue.
The show, “The Great Space Coaster,” featured a number of puppets who lived on an asteroid. Cartoons were shown, songs were sung, and celebrities made appearances. The show ran from 1981 to 1986, and was co-created by Kermit Love, one of the original Muppet designers and a collaborator with Jim Henson.
Hamill’s appearance showcases his voice acting talent, as he dishes out a cowboy draw and even dons a ten gallon hat in a sketch in which he tries to change his image.
Here’s the video, cued to Hamill’s appearance near the end of the show.
If you get the chance to watch the entire show, you should take the time. It’s an entertaining piece of 80’s nostalgia.